Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 October 1876 — JOHN VANT WOUD. [ARTICLE]

JOHN VANT WOUD.

On the republican ticket of Jasper county, as a candidate for eommirioner from As first district, appeare the name of John Van’t Wood, of Keener township. This gentleman was bora in Holland, b probably about fifty yean of age, twenty-six of which he has passed in America. He b a man of mon than ordinary natural ability; possesses aohehriy attainments superior, even, to many native bora eitisens; b shrewd in the study es human nature; ban agreeable conversationalist; an excellent neighbor; an honorable man; and a good exemplary citizen and member of society. Tor a number of years before moving into Jasper county he was a resident of the city of Chicago, where he was managing editor of a newspaper published in tho Holland tongue, and held positions of trust and honor. He was second assistant comptroller of the city of Chicago for six years, during which period he had control of the issuing of licenses to draymen, saloon keepers, public carriers, and the many departments of business which pay taxes into the city revenues in this tnanner; he also, as a part of bb official duty, had to oversee the management of the bridewell or city prison, and the redemption of property sold for delinquent taxes. Afterwards he was elected to the office of justice of the peace; an office which in Chicago or any other large city b vastly more important than in our sparsely settled townships. Indeed the business of a justice’s office in Chicago amounts to more than that of our circuit court. So honestly, so intelligently, so faithfully, and so satisfactorily did Mr. Van't Wood perform his official duties in the several capacities where he was placed that upon the occasion of bb resignation and determination to move into Jasper county the Chicago Tribune considered it an event of sufficient interest to its local readers as to publish an article of considerable length auDounting the fact, and complimenting in highest terms of praise the honored citizen who was about to remove from their midst. Mr. Joseph Medill, who is chief stock holder of tho Tribune company, who was mayor of Chicago during the term succeeding the great fire, having been elected by the people irrespective of party proclivities —a gentleman of national reputation nnd unquestioned veracity—was himself the author of that notice. Mr. Van’t Woud became a citizen of Jasper county with thb high endorsement as a letter es introduction. Until he became a candidate upon the republican ticket his honesty was not questioned and his integrity never assailed. Within a few days, however, the champions of reform have busied themselves in the circulation of a report that he swindled the treasury of this county by demanding exhorbitant fees for conveying an insane man to the asylum at Indianapolis. In order that intelligent men may see how little foundation there is for thb charge, the claim is here reproduced:

Btatb or Imdiasa, Jasfsb Codmtt, m: (a the matter of Jacob Bakker, insane. BTATIMKITT or COSTS. John Van't Mfoud, mileage for self and two assistant#, viz: Leonidas Viccry and John Kooi, from Keener township to Ban Pierre, 8 persona 48 miles @ 15 cento 421.60 Mileage for self and one assistant, tlk Leonidas Vicory, from Ban Pierre to Indianapolis, 2 persons 240 miles A 16 cento 72.00 One day’s snbsistnnoe for patient- .60 $94.10 Charles H. Price, clerk Jasper circuit court ~ $8.60 Daniels. Fairchild, Justice of the pCftC© ,•• •»eoeueeSQUe* **** 4.20 Lorenzo Ttokhtm,\ justice of the peace. ..*•••. •••••••• 2.00 wmnw vx». A. A. Tyter.ss.2o Thomas Antrim, examining physician . 6.95 William D. Van’t Wood 6.20 John VaU’t Woud... 5.20 John K001..............w...1.35 L. L. Daugherty, sheriff. $1.20 J. A. McKenzie, clothing bi11......534.40 State of Indiana, Jasper county, ss: I, Charles H. Price, clerk es the Jasper circuit court, do hereby certify that the above is a true and correct statement of the free taxed in the case of Jacob Bakker, an insane person, as appears of record in my office. Witness my hand and the seal f SSAIAof said court this 28th day of August, A. D. 1876. CRablbs H. Pbicx, Clerk Jasper Circuit Court. This claim is a just one. It was made in accordance with the provisions of law. The services mentioned were performed. The persons named performed them. The claim was made out by the hands of Charles H. Price, who Is not a republican. It is certified to as “a true and correct statement” by the clerk of Jasper county, who is not a republican. It was examined and allowed by a fWI board of commissioners, two-thirds of whom are not republicans. The fees are fixed in a bill that was passed

bv the last legislature, which was not republican, and received the official approval of Hon. Thopias A- Hendricks, who b not a republican. The whole claim of Mr. Van’t Wood, witness fees and all, amounts to $99.30. Of thb sum $43.80 were paid to Leonidas Vicory, and 17.20 to John Kooi, as shown by the receipts of these gentlemen now in The Uniox office, and subject to the examination of any person who may be so curious as to desire to see them; and 50 cents for one day’s board of the patient. Thb makes an aggregate of $50.90, add to thb 15.20 witness fees, making $56.10, and subtract from the total received by him and there is left $43.20 as the sum total received for railroad fare, hack faro, hotel bills, use of team, three days time, and the care of a dangerously insane man. It is not an unreasonable charge. We have never heard Mr. Van’t Wood’s friends claim that he ba saint, and do not know that the subject of religion enters properly into the discussions of the political campaign. It b not claimed for him that he ever occupied a pulpit in the capacity of a preacher calling sinners to repentance or warning them of the wrath to come. But neither b he chief of sinners, nor has he ever been silenced by a conference upon charges of lewd conduct with the ewes of the flock. Indeed he is only an ex. emplary citizen of Jasper county, soliciting suffrages on the sole merit of political and mental capacity to perform the duties of commissioner in a creditable manner.

A canvass of the voters of Jasper county has been made by the republican central committee, and returns are now in. Unless those who were engaged in making the canvass have been careless, or were shockingly deceived, there are between 1,880 and 1,900 persons entitled to vote here on next Tuesday. Without entering upon details, it may be said that tho classification of these voters is liighly gratifying to republicans. They will carry the county by an unanticipated majority. Gen. Harrison and Major Calkins will be especially gratified by these figures. Perhaps it may not always be safe to count chickens before they are batbired, or majorities before they are polled, but there is a fine prospect for a prolific crop. Come out, republicans, and show bow many there are in Jasper oounty who have kept the faith of tho fathers.

Judge J. T. Logan did not appear to address the grand rally of independents who assembled in Rensselaer on Tuesday to hear him. They—the independent-greenback party —gave up the show of contest in Indiana two weeks ago. When Mr. Wolcott spoke here Saturday night he announced at the opening of his address that he did “not appear as a candidate soliciting suffrages, but as the advocate “of a theory.” Probably there will not be 5,000 independentgreenback votes polled in the state next Tuesday. At present writing Marion township, Jasper county, has only ten men in it who have votes to squander in that careless way.

When the Remington Recorft copperhead political editor says that Hon. Win. K. Parkison ever charged the people of Jasper county $6 per day for attending the fair at Rensselaer four days, or when he says or intimates that he drew from the treasury of J asper county any other sum of money for anything else than official duties performed, or material supplied-*-tbe Remington Record?t copperhead political editor exhibits as much horror of the naked truth as Beelsebub is said to have of holy water.

When the copperhead who manages the political department of the Remington Record says that Hon. Wm. K. Parkison ever accepted $5 per day for services a* county commissioner, he knocks truth as oraxy as a hog with blind staggers’. Mr. Parkison never took $6 of the “Hard earning* of a tax oppressed” people for a day’s services in hi* life. It was our “retrenchment and reform” board of commissioners who grabbed that fee from the moment they sat in their official chairs.

Look ont for spurious tickets next Tuesday.

wwr v A Y U. a w a ****** independent candidate for sheriff of Jajiper county, WM Hub week fa distributing sparions, eo-oaDsd republican, tickets, on which hb name was printed as the candidate for sheriff in the place of that of George M. Bobia«m who b the republican candidate for that office. If Mr. Lamborn denies thb charge we are prepared to prove its truth by gentlemen of the highest standing m Jasper county. No fair means can defeat Mr. Robinson, and no unfair tricks shall defeat him if seasonable exposure will prevent it “The republican party b corrupt, and “the people want a change—they want “honest men in office,” nays Mr. John A. Lamborn, independent candidate for sheriff, as he goes up and down Jasper county distributing bogus republican tickets. We can prove by more than , one responsible witness that Mr. John A. Lamborn has been distributing spurious tickets in Jasper comity. We can prove that he was engaged in thb missionary enterprise as late as Tuesday—day before yesterday.

Mr. John A. Lamborn, the independent candidate for sheriff of Jasper county, preaches honesty and reform in politics; but thb week he has been circulating so-called republican tickets with hb own name printed in place of that of Mr. George M. Robinson, who b the republican candidate. We can prove that Mr. John A. Lamborn, independent candidate for sheriff, has stooped, to thb contemptible little trick: And. the same with intent to deceive. For a week past Mr. John A. Lambora, independent candidate for sheriff, has been engaged in distributing spurious republican tickets. Thb b a fact. Watch I Examine carefully the ticket handed you to vote, and if any names are on them you do not like, scratch ; but don’t be deceived by any fraud. Mr. John A. Lamborn, independent candidate for sheriff of Jasper oounty, has been engaged in distributing bogus election tickets. That’s the kind of “reform” politician he b, and if he denies it, we are prepared to prove it on him.